School Tax Rate Increases A Bit Tentative $189 Million Budget Comes Up For Final Approval Sept. 10

July 24, 1985

DELAND — Volusia County school board members gave tentative approval Tuesday to a $189 million budget for 1985-86 that would increase the property tax rate by .3 mills over this year. The action paves the way for a final public hearing and adoption of the budget on Sept. 10.

Because of a small change in the amount of taxes the state requires the county to levy, the rate approved Tuesday is .03 mills lower than the one advertised by the school board two weeks ago. A mill is a $1 levy on each $1,000 of taxable property value.

The tentatively approved tax rate is 8.21 mills, rather than 8.24. This year's rate was 7.91 mills. The budget total still is approximate, because the county is not sure exactly how much money it will receive from the federal government for programs it subsidizes.

The state had estimated the tax roll in Florida's 67 counties to come up with the mandatory part of the tax rate, called required local effort. When actual tax rolls were submitted by the county, the state was able to drop the mandatory rate from $4.32 per $1,000 of property value to $4.29.

In addition to the mandatory tax rate, the Volusia school board expects to levy a 1.32-mill discretionary tax for operating costs; 1.5 mills to raise money for construction of a new high school in the Deltona area; and 1.1 mills to help pay off construction bonds issued in 1972 and 1980.

Four residents spoke at Tuesday's public hearing, on topics ranging from the lack of air-conditioning at Read-Pattillo Elementary School in New Smyrna Beach to the need for increased teacher salaries, but the board made no changes in the proposed budget as a result of the comments.